LKTN promoting kenaf with patriotism this Merdeka

It was no common roadshow to mark the upcoming Merdeka celebrations on Saturday, as the National Kenaf and Tobacco Board (LKTN) also generated awareness about the next best thing in commercial farming – kenaf besides instilling the spirit of patriotism.

Led by board chairman Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah, the board personnel travelled some 389km via road to spread the joy of “Merdeka” and about the benefits of growing kenaf, both as a sustainable household greenery and for its commercial appeal.

The roadshow travelled by Perak before reaching Penang recently where the LKTN held an event with their agriculture counterpart – the National Fisheries Development Board (LKIM) while also visiting tourism haunts here.

Along the way, the convoy stopped at the Tadika Kemas (preschool) in Batu Gajah, Tanah Merah, Kelantan to shower the adolescents with hampers and the Jalur Gemilang national flags.

At the LKIM facility in Batu Maung, the board members and officers handed out the flags and later in the evening, both authorities held a football friendly match at the Universiti Sains Malaysia football pitch.

Wan Rahim later said that LKTN will collaborate with LKIM to construct a floating jetty based on the kenaf as one of the composite materials.

This is one of the many benefits of kenaf, which has brought into the country from the African continent some five decades ago, said Wan Rahim in an interview.

In the 1990s, kenaf was recognised as potential alternative fibrous material for the production of panel products such as fibre and particle boards.

Under the European Union green regulations, the fisheries sector need to replace plastic products such as floating pontoons with recycled or plant – based products.

Hence, kenaf is an ideal alternative, said Wan Rahim, a former Kelantan State Legislative Speaker from 2004 to 2013.

Kenaf composites are also expanding into the construction sector where its material makes homes lighter and cooler, especially when the world is battling climate change.

Wan Rahim also said that the board was also working with a pet food production plant in Sungai Dua, Penang to manufacture pet food for the felines and other household pets.

It is a one – stop veterinary center with a clinic for cats and each month, the factory distributes some RM300,000 worth of pet food using kenaf as part of its products.

Wan Rahim said that the board focus is now on five aspects of cultivating the growth of kenaf, especially with its plans to expand into Sabah and Sarawak.

Kenaf, an eco – friendly plant and product, is ideally grown in tropical hottest climate, so it grows best in the states with the highest humidity, such as Kelantan, Pahang, Perlis and Kedah as well as pockets in Penang and Terengganu.

The five aspects are expanding the processing of kenaf into the fibre composites, animal feed (pet food), bio composites and henwood (made from kenaf strong fiber branches)

Wan Rahim said that there is a need to change the mindset from growing tobacco, which is a natural cash crop to kenaf, which the agriculture authorities envisioned as the plant to replace tobacco, which is been banned in many countries.

He said that there is a Merdeka roadshow can be part of the process to generate more awareness about the plant, which is easily grown and upkept even in households and can be harvested easily.

Penang Consumer Protection Association president Datuk K. Koris Atan said that he supports the notion of replacing tobacco with kenaf although the awareness level remains low.

“It is better than tobacco because it is proven that cigarettes are bad for health,” he said.